First I need to say that I am probably the only person in the world who has not yet seen the movie. That said, there are probably going to be spoilers so if you, like I, have not yet seen the film you might not want to read this review.

The book flap tells us: More than thirty years ago, Star Wars burst onto the big screen and became a cultural phenomenon. Now the next adventures in this blockbuster saga are poised to captivate old and new fans alikebeginning with the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And alongside the cinematic debut comes the thrilling novel adaptation by New York Times bestselling science fiction master Alan Dean Foster.

Set years after Return of the Jedi, this stunning new action-packed adventure rockets us back into the world of Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Luke Skywalker, while introducing a host of exciting new characters. Darth Vader may have been redeemed and the Emperor vanquished, but peace can be fleeting, and evil does not easily relent. Yet the simple belief in good can still empower ordinary individuals to rise and meet the greatest challenges.

So return to that galaxy far, far away, and prepare yourself for what happens when the Force awakens. .

This a quick read, the story moves along quickly and we catch up with old familiar characters as well as meeting new ones. Decades after Darth Vadar and the Galactic Empire was defeated we find The First Order developing a new weapon to destroy the Rebellion, now led by General Leia Organa, once and for all. This time out everyone is chasing BB-8, a little droid that is carrying a map that will lead to Luke Skywalker. New characters are Poe, the dashing rebel pilot, Finn, a stormtrooper defector, and Rey, a mysterious girl from a desert planet. And, of course, we have Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C3PO.

This could almost be viewed as a reboot as we have the young person from the desert planet who will seemingly turn out to be very important, the evil Empire, or in this case The First Order, building a massive weapon, the search for a missing droid that holds vital information and the death of a beloved character. And it works. Recommended. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon